All about the Price Tag
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One
of my favorite TV shows is PBS’ “Bluegrass Underground.” Week after week, it is great music from the
unlikeliest of places-from a subterranean amphitheater called the Volcano Room
in historic Cumberland Caverns, 333 feet below McMinnville, Tennessee. Talented musicians playing wonderful music in
a truly unique acoustical setting makes for an awesome combination. It’s worth
checking out.
One
of my favorite episodes was Keller Williams & The Travelin'
McCourys. They
closed their show with their Bluegrass version of Jessie J’s song "Price Tag"
(which I prefer over the original). It
has become a new personal favorite. If you haven't heard it, it sounds like
this:
When
I hear the term “Price Tag” I can't help but think of NASCAR. Money, the Price Tag, has always been a part
of racing. The old racing adage goes
that “Speed is money cubed” has always been true. Of late it seems like that is driving every
aspect of the sport. Everything is a
revenue stream and if it isn't or isn't big enough it's ditched to move on to
the next great income generator. More
than ever it seems to no longer be about the racing but all about the “Price
Tag”. It’s all been done at the expense
of passion which sustained and grew the sport over the years.
Maybe
that's why this song strikes a chord with me.
While
on YouTube I stumbled across the song again.
It was shortly after Matt Kenseth said he wasn't going to be back next
season. As a race fan that saddens
me. Something is bad wrong when a
Champion and 38 race winner, third winningest active driver and top 20 all-time
winning driver can't get a competitive ride.
Plus it's not like he’s exactly washed up. He won races last year, he qualified for this
year's Chase and went pretty deep before being eliminated. That is a sight better than others who are
leaving now or have gone before.
I
ponder what happened. How did we get
here? What went wrong? What did Matt do wrong?
The
best I can come up with is he got “old” and the “Price Tag.”
In
light of Matt’s departure, now when I listen to “Price Tag” by Keller Williams
& The Travelin' McCourys,
Jessie J’s words fade, replaced by these words which more aptly describe where
I often feel we’re at now.
Seems like everybody's
got a price Can you feel that? Yeah! It's about the uh cha-ching cha-ching We need to take it back
in time Guarantee they'll be
feeling alright. It's all about the
money, money, money It's about the uh cha-ching cha-ching Going
to miss you Matt in 2018. Thanks for all
the memories. Hope
you make it back in 2019. Maybe
by then the Price Tag’s hold won't be so strong.
I wonder how they sleep at night
When the sale comes first
And the truth comes second
Just stop for a minute and smile
Why is everybody so serious?
Acting so damn mysterious
Got shades on your eyes
Racing costs so high that you can't even have a good
time.
Everybody look who is left
Everybody knows it's not right
No running for love tonight
It's all about the money, money, money
Gotta bring more money, money, money
To race and just have a chance
It's all about the price tag.
‘Bout the sponsors that you br, br,
br-ing
Wanna just have a chance
It's all about the price tag!
When racing made us all unite
And it wasn't a show and cars could go
Am I the only the one getting tired?
Why is racing just such a mess?
Money can't buy them happiness
Can they just slow down and enjoy right now?
Everybody look who is left
Everybody knows it's not right
Can you feel that? Yeah!
No running for love tonight
Bring more money, money, money
To race and just have a chance
It's all about the price tag
‘Bout the sponsors that you br, br,
br-ing
Wanna just have a chance
It's all about the price tag!